Can Iron Maiden Save Rock and Roll? New Single “Speed Of Light”

By Jeffery X Martin

The venerable British heavy metal band Iron Maiden is returning with a new double album, The Book of Souls, and the first single, “Speed of Light,” is a five-minute-long, arena-sized rollercoaster ride through a thunderstorm, with a hot riff so slinky, the Lord of Darkness could floss with it. It’s a swift kick in the ass for a rock and roll scene grown stale and over-inflated with buttrock and pseudo-Satania. There’s more energy in this one single than there has been in the last three Foo Fighters albums. Leave it to a bunch of 50-year-old Brits to rear back up and bring a whole genre back to life, like a collective of Victor Frankensteins.

That’s pretty heavy praise for just one song, and I know that, but listen, you guys.

No, I mean, listen to the song.

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Music Review: Sharkmuffin, Chartreuse

By Tyler Hodg

It’s incredible to think that Chartreuse is Sharkmuffin’s debut full-length album. The duo’s aggressive punk-rock sound is realized to its fullest, and amplifies the idea of the importance of a cohesive unit. In addition to the band’s music, the all-female Sharkmuffin proves rock’n’roll is not limited to the male gender.

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Music Review: Grace Potter, Midnight

By Melissa Bratcher

Damn, that Grace Potter can sing. In stepping away from her band the Nocturnals to make her first solo album Midnight, Potter stretches her poppier wings, making an album that features dance beats and thumpers. The focus, though, is Grace Potter’s soulful, incredible voice.

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White Shoes And White Horse: The Knick Season Two Trailer

By Less Lee Moore

I only knew of Steven Soderbergh’s TV drama The Knick by name but it was a series of tweets from filmmaker Aaron Moorhead (Resolution, Spring) that got me interested in it.

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Beetlejuice 2: Has the Franchise Been in the Afterlife Too Long?

By Jeffery X Martin

Winona Ryder has reportedly confirmed that Beetlejuice 2, the sequel no one has been asking for, is actually happening. Director Tim Burton and the old bio-exorcist himself, Michael Keaton, are also on board for the film.

Beetlejuice came out in 1988. That’s 27 years ago.

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Blu-Ray Review: Inner Demons

By Jeffery X Martin

You’ve seen it before and there’s no sense in denying it. Some things just shouldn’t be paired up. Maybe there’s a couple whose relationship dynamic seems odd and impenetrable. Perhaps someone likes to do strange things with their food. I, for example, put peanut butter on hot dogs. My wife is displeased with this choice.

These examples of poor matching can be applied to the horror film, Inner Demons, a found-footage film which shouldn’t be a found-footage film.

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Goodnight Mommy Trailer Is A Genuine Creepfest

By Jeffery X Martin

Major American studios have proven they have no desire to make decent horror movies anymore. It’s all superheroes around here, buddy, and if you haven’t jumped on that bandwagon, then it’s Pixels for you.

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The Official Popshifter Podcast, Episode #01: Styx and Stones

Welcome to The Official Popshifter Podcast, Episode #01, “Styx and Stones May Break My Bones, But Save Hannibal”

Featuring Managing Editor Less Lee Moore and Featured Contributor Jeffery X Martin! Enjoy and thanks for listening.

Reviews:

Ted Nugent, Free-For-All (Expanded Edition)

Goblin Rebirth, Goblin Rebirth

Pit Stop Blu-Ray

Veruca Salt at Lee’s Palace, Toronto ON

Links:

Satanic Panic: Pop Cultural Paranoia In the 1980s

The Black Room Manuscripts (all proceeds go to Blue Cross UK)

Movie Memories: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

By Tyler Hodg

I can vividly remember the first time I saw Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. As a child sitting on my Grandmother’s couch, I could not take my peepers off of the television as the scene where Pee-wee realizes his bicycle has been stolen played out. Morbid curiosity got to me during a shot of a mechanical clown taunting the character’s distress, pushing my coulrophobia to the limits, and my interest to an instant high. I watched the movie in wonder until it concluded, and to this day, it’s one my favorite films of all time. I also still hate that damn clown.

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Music Review: Mynabirds, Lovers Know

By Melissa Bratcher

The newest Mynabirds album, Lovers Know, has an intoxicating quality. Featuring shimmering synths, electronic drums, and reverbed guitars, there’s a hint of ‘80s electronica, as well as a shoegazey dreaminess, but there’s also a vitality that could only be borne of today. Frontwoman Laura Berhenn’s splendid vocals are by turns touching and exhilarating, and always beautifully intimate.

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